Celtic have prevented Efe Ambrose from being part of the Nigerian Olympic squad

The Daily Mail are reporting that Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has blocked defender Efe Ambrose from joining up with the Nigeria squad ahead of the summer Olympics in Brazil.

Ambrose, 27, has been at Celtic for four years, and Rodgers obviously rates him as an important member of the first-team squad, despite him not necessarily being his first-choice.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reportedly wants Ambrose back with the club because of a mini-injury crisis

The Hoops are currently facing a mini-crisis in defence with both Jozo Simunovic and Derrick Boyata likely to miss the start of the season.

Ambrose is currently with his national squad at a training camp in Slovenia, but Celtic have given him the order to return, telling him that he is needed for the opening weeks of the new campaign.

Celtic's Efe Ambrose

The Mail also go on to say how his long-term future at the club is uncertain, however, with Rodgers contemplating defensive reinforcements such as Kolo Toure and Andre Wisdom.

The ex-Liverpool boss will be determined to hit the ground running when Celtic kick-off their title defence away at Hearts on August 6th, and he obviously feels having Ambrose as part of his squad will help them achieve that.